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Up to 600 homes could be built on two fields and surrounding land in St Peter Port with any planning applications likely to be approved if they closely follow the guidelines proposed in new Draft Development Frameworks.
A Draft Development Framework for the field lying between La Vrangue and Pitronnerie Road - published as Pitronnerie Road Development Framework - has intimated that up to 60 units could be built here.
They would likely be a mix of dwelling types including both flats and houses, with car and bicyle parking, and some public amenity space.The DDF can be read HERE.
The other area earmarked for housing is labelled as La Vrangue Development Framework and it can be read HERE.
This DDF refers to a larger parcel of land between La Vrangue road itself and La Couture including the land currently occupied by the College of Further Education on Routes des Coutanchez.
It's suggested that in total this land could hold up to 527 units - also comprising a mix of flats and houses.
Pictured: The Draft Development Frameworks suggest a combined yield of up to 600 houses could be built in the two nearby areas.
With Guernsey in the midst of a so-called housing crisis and the States saying that building more homes is their priority, the potential addition of 600 properties to the island's stock would help to meet the island's needs said the President of the Development and Planning Authority.
“I’d like to thank everyone who took the opportunity to submit their comments on the draft Development Frameworks," said DPA President, Deputy Victoria Oliver. "It’s important that we receive as much feedback as possible to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.
“La Vrangue is a housing allocation site and both this and the Pitronnerie Road site are within the St Peter Port Main Centre Outer Area and are not designated as Important Open Land. In principle therefore both sites can be developed for residential purposes to help meet the island’s housing needs.”
“We are here to be enablers and not blockers, and Development Frameworks help us to do just that, paving the way for the right types of developments to come forward to help address our need for housing.”
The States Strategic Housing Indicator was agreed by the States in March 2023, and saw deputies commit to the creation of 1,565 new homes between 2023 and 2027.
The approval of a Draft Development Framework does not mean any building work is going to start imminently but it does pave the way for future planning applications relating to housing in these areas, particularly ones which will closely follow the guidance made by the DDF.
The DDFs have included Traffic Impact Assessments which have suggested "sustainable transport interventions" aimed at improving "safety and connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists, and to encourage positive travel behaviours, both for existing and future residents".
The TIA also suggests changing the road networks with additional traffic lights and a one way system at La Vrangue Hill.
La Vrangue Hill is the section of road leading to the traffic lights at the junction with the Bouet and Pitronnerie Road. The DDF for the Pitronnerie Road field says that: " La Vrangue Hill is identified by Traffic and Highway Services as having specific road safety issues in relation to pedestrian safety."
Meanwhile, the DDF for the La Vrangue site (covering the College of FE and land behind it) notes that the roads surrounding this area "all have relatively high traffic flows by Guernsey standards", while "La Vrangue also additionally witnesses significant traffic movements throughout Monday to Saturday during the inter-peak times".
Pictured: Both Draft Development Frameworks make suggestions for mitigating the impact of new housing developments on the road networks. The above relates to La Vrangue DDF.
If the DDF leads to hundreds of new homes built on the area identified as La Vrangue, which includes the College of FE and the Old Tobacco factory sites, then new traffic lights could be installed to manage traffic.
This would be aided by making La Vrangue Hill one-way, eastbound, while a signal-controlled pedestrian and bicycle crossing would be installed at Rue Thomas.
Traffic lights would also be needed at the Rue Thomas junction with Route des Coutanchez and Ptronnerie Road, to enable
Primary site access is recommended via Route des Coutanchez with secondary vehicle access suggested through the Old Tobacco Factory and possibly at the Old Orchard access points too.
Pavements would be created around the entire development along with routes for cyclists and public transport links.
Pictured: If houses are built on the field, there will likely be one entrance/exit for vehicles, leading on to Pitronnerie Road.
Added to the above, a TIA also found a number of junctions in the area around the field between Pitronnerie Road and La Vrangue would experience an increase in traffic if the smaller development is allowed to go ahead in the rectangular field.
Therefore, junction improvement schemes have been identified at the traffic light junction at Le Bouet/Pitronnerie Road/La Vrangue, which again suggests making La Vrangue Hill oneway easterly, towards the lights.
New traffic lights are again suggested for Rue Thomas at the junction with Route des Coutanchez and Pitronnerie Road.
The proposed changes are also intended to "provide betterment for pedestrians and cyclists with the introduction of signal-controlled crossings".
Draft plans drawn up for hundreds of new homes
La Vrangue Hill could go one-way
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